Ok, we admit it.....
we like to drink,  a little,   at  Best  Gay Chicago!

So we find ourselves in all of the various drinking establishments in Chicago, at some point or another.  And there is nothing we hate more than bartenders with attitude, bartenders who ignore customers, and bartenders who make a bad drink!

We have a few favorite bartenders around town who we wanted to recognize for the outstanding drinks they've  made us and great service they deliver with a  smile. Some of them are so good they remember what you drink, and some of them even start pouring as we walk in the door!

JOEY  KOT  keeps the drinks flowing these days  at  SoFo Bar on the edge of Andersonville.  4923 N. Clark.  He has been bartending for 18 years (when did he start? when he was 10??)  and the best drink he makes is a  Special Margarita.

What does he like to drink? "Speciality Whiskey Old Fashion (the proper way) my mother taught me how to make them. It was my first drink I ever made. She too was a bartender. The best ever!" and when asked what his biggest pet peeve was, he says, " Customers not saying please or thank you."

Janada Halbisen-Gibbs (don't you just love her name?) has been bartending just under 5 years and be found at  Big Chicks, also in the Andersonville  area at 5024 N. Sheridan.

She says, " The first drink I learned is the most raved about in my repitoire, simple citron cosmo, sweet and tart with a twist. But my speciallty I would say is finding the perfect drink to compliment a persons mood for the evening and always adding that extra "TLC"."

 "Though I'm usually a Jameson girl, the sweet tea vodka that has migrated north has been my favorite  drink this summer. Keep it simple, on ice with equal parts sweet tea vodka and two lemon wedges, delicious perfection!"

As for pet peeve? "Disrepect. I'm so lucky to work in a bar with great coworkers and awesome customers. You come in and there's an energy of family/familiarity, so when someone pulls a move such as banging on the bar or just being an asshole it's not going to fly, honey.

There is a difference between being rude and being sassy, that difference is intention. Everyone has bad days, but there are those who just want to make someone else's day or life as miserable as they are. I'm not playing that game, leave it at the door. We're here to decompress and celebrate, and everyone can enjoy that."

(Janada's  photo - Copyright 2009 Jonathan M. Vogel Photography)

     

ROSCOE'S is our favorite stomping grounds in Boystown. 3356 N. Halsted. It's a  friendly bar where the staff is great and you can always meet someone here.  People are usually very nice, approachable and friendly. 2 of our favorite bartenders are Lucas aka Luca Hawkins and  Jason  Richter.

Lucas has  been @ Roscoes for 10yrs. He says, "The best drink I make is a Pink Cadillac.(& NOT a Mary Kay Pink Cadillac).

When I go out I like to drink VODKA!  Usually w/soda (on "feeling fat days") or sugar free redBull.(on "Feeling skinny days").

I have to say that its not necessarily my biggest pet peeve but, I find it most funny...is the cheesy pick-up lines. I ALWAYS have to "have fun" with those guys. I'm just kinda like...."Seriously!!?".


We first met Jason when he got his first bartending job at the then REHAB inside of Circuit Night Club! That was 9 years ago! (I wonder how many drinks he has made us in that time?? I probably don't want to know!)

He makes a  DELICIOUS  grape popsicle shot!  "I like to drink  beer and shots of vodka, but also like a good gin and tonic here and there."   and he says,"My biggest pet peeve is when you don't have your money ready and your texting to talking on your cell phone when ordering." - Jim, the owner of Roscoes is a great, friendly guy. he does a lot for the community and he always stops and says  "hello".  We love most of the staff at Roscoes - so please do not feel offended, if you we were not highlighted this time around guys.  We catch you in a couple months!

Last but not least, as we work our way home and crawl home north from Roscoes, a night out wouldn't be complete without a  stop at  Little  Jims! 3501 N. Halsted.

  Did you know? 

Little Jims is the first gay bar that opened in Chicago?!  34 years and still going, the owner Jim made a bold move in 70's, moving into a then-horrible neighborhood, to open the first gay bar in the city, and  marked the beginning of  what we now know as  Boystown. This is  our  Stonewall Inn! This little gem is a piece of our history! We had the honor of meeting the  real  LITTLE  JIM today, who was in Chicago visiting, on his birthday! And we'll be doing an interview with him, in the coming weeks.  Watch for it!


One of our favorite bartenders  here  is  Pixie!  

He is always (almost always) smiling. He is friendly, personable with a dash of sarcasm thrown in, and makes a damn good drink.

He has been  at  Little Jims  over  6  years - but did some bartending previously as well.  His  special drink - he says in the summertime, he makes  a  mean  Pixie Special!  3  flavored  vodkas,  a bit of Malibu coconut rum, some pineapple juice and couple secret ingredients!!  YUMMMM!  When he is out and about, he likes  Gin. And his biggest pet peeve? INDECISION. "customers walk up  to the bar, and don't know what they want!"

Most bartenders work very hard and a lot of customers  can be rude and down right annoying. So please -  Know what you want when you step up to the bar. Have your money ready. DO NOT walk up and order while texting or on the phone. Say PLEASE  and  THANK  YOU. Show them some respect.

Imagine if you had this job....how would you like to be treated??

The Best  of  Gay  Chicago